smith lee



O. S. LEE.

TORPEDO BOAT.

(No Model.)

No. 333,762. Patented Jan. 5, 1886.

It -vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv llflz ad??? @w/m WITNESSES A). 18. 9 mm ATTORNEY. V

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

0. SMITH LEE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TORPEDO-BOAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 333.762. dated January 5, 1886.

Application filed May 9, 1885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, 0. SMITH LEE, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Torpedo-Boats, of which the following is a specification, reference being made to the annexed drawing, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to the class oftorpedoboats designed to be wholly or partly submerged; and it consists in an expansible hull, preferably formed of two parts capable of sliding telescopically one upon the other, and in means for extending or contracting the boat by sliding one part upon the other, the object being to increase or diminish the buoyancy of the boat by increasing or diminishing its displacement without changing the quantity of air contained by the boat.

In torpedo-boats as commonly constructed the buoyancy of the boat is changed by increasing or diminishing its load. This is usually accomplished by admitting water into the boat and pumping it therefrom; but in such boats the space occupied by the watereompartments is unavailable for other purposes, and necessitate either a larger boat for a given purpose, or diminished capacity for motive power or for the crew. This defect in torpedo-boats as ordinarily constructed renders the use of electric batteries as a motive power inconvenient, ifnot impossible.

My improvement admits of a large carrying capacity and affords means for quickly and easily raising or lowering the boat without altering the quantity of air contained therein.

In the drawing Ihave shown one form of torpedo-boat to which my improvement isapplied, but it is equally applicable to various other forms.

The hull of the boat is formed of two cylindrical parts, A B, terminating in conical ends 0 D, the end 0 forming the stern and being provided with the screw-propeller E, of ordinary construction, the end D forming thebow and having the usual well-known devices for projecting torpedoes therefrom. The cylindrical part B slides over the cylindrical part Serial No. 164,884. (No model.)

A and is provided with any well -known means for excluding the water from thejoiut between the two parts. In the present case I have provided in opposite sides of the boat hydraulic cylinders E, which are secured to the inner walls of the part A, and to the part B, I have secured brackets G, which are rigidly connected with the rods H of the pistons I of the hydraulic cylinders F.

By forcing water into one end or the other of the cylinders F, I am enabled to slide the part B upon the part A, so as to increase or diminish the length of the boat.

By sliding the part B so as to extend the boat, the air contained by the boat is rarefied, the displacement of the boat is increased, and its increased buoyancy causes it to rise. By reversing this process the air contained by the boat is compressed, its displacement is diminished, and it descends by its own gravity.

By dispensing with air and water reservoirs I am enabled to utilize the space not required for the crew and hydraulic machincry, for electric batteries to furnish the power for driving the screw E for propelling the boat through the water; or, if other sources of power are desirable-such as compressed airI am enabled to provide large compart- .ments for containing air under pressure for driving the propelling-engine.

Although I have described the application of hydraulic cylinders to this boat for the purpose of extending it and contracting it, I may use any of the well-known mechanical contrivauces applicable to this purpose, such as racks and pinions, screws and tackle of various kinds.

I have described my improved boat as con sisting of two parts, one sliding over the other; but any suitable means for making the boat expansible may be substituted therefor.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A torpedo-boat formed of two parts,each part having a portion the sides of which are parallel, the parallel sides of one part of the boat being arranged to slide over the parallel sides of the other part 01' the boat, to admit of diminishing or increasing its length and of heated with the other part of the boat, and

condensing or rarefying the air contained by means for furnishing water under pressure to is the boat, substantially as and for the purpose the hydraulic cylinders, substantially as hereherein specified. in specified.

2. The combination, with aboat formed of C. SMITH LEE. two parts, A B, capable of sliding one over Witnesses; the other, of hydraulic cylinders F, attached DAVID K. CASE,

to one part of the boat, and their pistons con- GEO. M. HoPKINs. 

